FORWARD
The 188 stage Hero’s Journey (Monomyth) is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon. In fact, ALL of the hundreds of Hollywood movies we have deconstructed (see URL below) are based on this 188 stage template.
Understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters. This is the template you must master if you are to succeed in the craft.
[The terminology is most often metaphoric and applies to all successful stories and screenplays, from The Godfather (1972) to Brokeback Mountain (2006) to Annie Hall (1977) to Lord of the Rings (2003) to Drugstore Cowboy (1989) to Thelma and Louise (1991) to Apocaplyse Now (1979)].
THERE IS ONLY ONE STORY
THE 188 STAGE HERO′S JOURNEY:
a) Attempts to tap into unconscious expectations the audience has regarding what a story is and how it should be told.
b) Gives the writer more structural elements than simply three or four acts, plot points, mid point and so on.
c) Gives you a tangible process for building and releasing dissonance (establishing and achieving catharses, of which there are usually four).
d) Tells you what to write. For example, at a certain stage of the story, the focus should be on the Call to Adventure and the micro elements within.
ABRIDGED TIPS, EXCERPTS AND EXAMPLES:
(simply go to heros-journey.info/ heros-journey.info/ for full details)
*****Atonement with the Father*****
This is the confrontation with and conquest of the Inner Challenge.
The Atonement is the At-One-Ment. The Atonement is a metaphor for the Inner Challenge.
Confrontation. That which is the greatest barrier to the apotheosis is confronted. In Scarface (1983), Tony Montana confronts himself and the choice he has taken (the restaurant scene). In Raging Bull (1980), Jake confronts Joey and asks him whether he slept with his wife. In Casablanca (1942), Rick confronts both Ilsa and Victor.
Death of the Father. The Father is a metaphor for the Inner Challenge. As the Inner Challenge dies, so does the Father.
The Father is often a Mentor figure that previously aided or restricted the Hero. That figure now dies or leaves. This is why death or departure is normal at this stage.
The Hero replaces (internalises) the Father. In The Shawshank Redemption (1994), Andy walks out wearing the warden′s shoes.
Learn more…
WRITE THAT SCREENPLAY!
The Complete 188 stage Hero’s Journey and other story structure templates can be found at monomyth.info/ monomyth.info/
188 stages of the Hero’s Journey can also be reached from story-structure.org/ story-structure.org/
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Kal Bishop, MBA
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